Research & Technology in the EU

Latest news about Science, Research and Technology in the European Union

EU - Africa science partnership presents flagship projects — 06 October 2008, 23:14 CET

Commissioners of the European Union and the African Union have released a joint statement on the need to strengthen African research capacity and presented 19 flagship projects that will form the basis of the EU/AU thematic partnership in science, information and communication technology and space.

EU - Africa research partnership presents flagship projects — 03 October 2008, 19:19 CET

The Commissioners of the European Union and the African Union have released a joint statement on the need to strengthen African research capacity and presented 19 flagship projects that will form the basis of the EU/AU thematic partnership in science, information and communication technology and space.

European Technology Platforms evaluated — 02 October 2008, 22:27 CET

European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik has welcomed the results of a recent evaluation of the 34 European Technology Platforms (ETPs). At a meeting of industrial leaders of European Technology Platforms on 30 September, Commissioner Potocnik praised the ETPs, calling them 'unique and exceptional', and welcomed the results of the survey as overwhelmingly positive.

Radiation shut down EU test satellite for two weeks: ESA — 02 October 2008, 22:14 CET

A second test satellite for Galileo, Europe's rival to the US Global Positioning System (GPS), closed itself down for more than two weeks last month because of space radiation, concurring sources said Thursday.

Competitiveness Council resolves to advance European Space Policy — 29 September 2008, 18:12 CET

On 26 September, the Competitiveness Council adopted a resolution to advance Europe's Space Policy. The resolution sets out four priority areas: space and climate change; space and security; space exploration; and the contribution of space to the Lisbon Strategy. The Member States highlighted in particular the importance of the rapid and successful implementation both of Galileo, the EU's satellite navigation system, and GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security).

EU not boldly funding space ambitions — 26 September 2008, 22:46 CET

EU ministers agree that the EU wants to become a major player in space projects, amid concerns that Member States and industry are unwilling to provide the astronomical costs involved.

ERC Identification Committee named — 24 September 2008, 22:15 CET

The European Commission has named the members of the European Research Council (ERC) Identification Committee. The newly formed group has two tasks: to identify three new members of the ERC's Scientific Council and establish a procedure for the replacement of members in the future.

Facilitating access to EU funding: a new practical guide — 15 September 2008, 22:52 CET

The European Commission has published a new 'Practical Guide to EU funding opportunities for Research and Innovation'.

Information Technology Agreement (ITA) — 15 September 2008, 22:21 CET

News, background information and web links about the trade policy of the European Union.

European technology institute inaugurates board — 15 September 2008, 22:38 CET

The governing board of a new institute, aimed to bridge the innovation gap between the EU and the US and Japan, held its inaugural meeting in Budapest on Monday.

Nuclear fusion research takes a step forward — 11 September 2008, 16:54 CET

Europe, Japan and the ITER organisation have achieved a landmark success in their quest to create a nuclear-fusion-powered reactor. Fusion for Energy (F4E), the Joint Undertaking that provides Europe's contribution to ITER, has, with the support of its partners, successfully tested a prototype superconductor for a major component of the ITER project.

'A fantastic moment': first beam fired at CERN's large hadron collider — 10 September 2008, 23:07 CET

The world's largest-ever physics experiment has got underway at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Switzerland. The first beam of protons successfully made its way around the 27 km particle accelerator on the morning of 10 September, to rounds of applause in the LHC Control Room and the great relief of the scientists, some of whom have been waiting for this day for years.

Commission puts forward marine and maritime research strategy — 04 September 2008, 18:24 CET

The European Commission has set out its plans to strengthen links between the marine and maritime research communities. The Commission hopes its new European Strategy for Marine and Maritime Research will enhance the conservation of the fragile marine environment while facilitating the development of maritime activities such as shipping and fisheries.

EU funds heart project — 27 August 2008, 00:26 CET

The EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) has awarded EUR 14 million to a 4-year project, euHeart, for the improvement of the diagnosis, therapy and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The consortium comprises public and private partners from 16 research, academic, industrial and medical organisations from 6 European countries.

Commission launches open access pilot project — 21 August 2008, 21:28 CET

The European Commission has launched a pilot project which will see the results of EU-funded research in seven key subject areas made freely available online. According to the Commission, the initiative should raise the visibility of European research, and drive innovation by ensuring that businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises have access to the latest research results.

Bluetongue virus strain identified — 18 August 2008, 23:43 CET

An international team of scientists including both European institutes and an institute in South Africa has identified the strain of bluetongue that threatened European livestock in 2006-2007. The strain is believed to have originated in sub-Saharan Africa.

EU project addresses European energy needs — 14 August 2008, 23:33 CET

A revolution is set to occur in the world of European energy delivery. The ADDRESS European project, funded to the tune of EUR 9 million by the EU, aims to provide European citizens with the next evolution in energy delivery through the development of smart energy grids of the future. These grids will give consumers for the first time the ability to actively participate in energy delivery, choosing when they consume their energy as well as giving them the opportunity to supply energy into the energy grid.

Filling the need for broadband speed with GigaWaM — 08 August 2008, 21:38 CET

Everything is going online in today's high tech world. You can do your banking, fill in your tax and even purchase your groceries online. People are able to do this thanks to the vast increases in internet speed. But with increased traffic, comes increased traffic jams. The European project GigaWaM has received EUR 3 million from the EU to modernise people's broadband access and get rid of traffic jams once and for all.

EU set to meet energy targets thanks to increased energy efficiency — 08 August 2008, 21:37 CET

To aid in its fight against climate change, the EU has awarded EUR 2.3 million to the POBICOS ('Platform for opportunistic behaviour in incompletely specified, heterogeneous object communities') project, which aims to get energy-saving applications into people's homes.

ERC Advanced Grant recipients announced — 08 August 2008, 00:14 CET

The European Research Council (ERC) has released details of the first round of recipients of its Advanced Grants in the physical sciences and engineering fields. Some 105 of the almost 1,000 applicants from these disciplines have been allocated funding.

ESA spacecraft snaps best pictures yet of Martian moon — 06 August 2008, 23:31 CET

The European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft has taken the most detailed images ever of the Martian moon Phobos. The pictures, which ESA describes as 'the best images of Phobos ever', reveal previously unseen details of the moon's surface.

EIT Governing Board appointed — 06 August 2008, 23:30 CET

The European Commission has officially appointed the Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), paving the way for the launch of the first Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) under the new initiative. The board will hold its first meeting on 15 September in Budapest, Hungary, the new home of the EIT.

EU: Strengthening international research with Africa — 05 August 2008, 23:46 CET

The European Union has announced that it will be offering a grant of over EUR 600,000 to a joint partnership between the School of Social Sciences at the University of Southampton and the Regional Institute for Population Studies at the University of Ghana. This grant will bolster research into urban poverty and health issues in the West African country of Ghana as well as strengthen partnership ties between the EU and Ghana.

EU opens the way for 'cars that talk' — 05 August 2008, 16:48 CET

Cars stuck in traffic or on slippery roads will be able to communicate with other vehicles in a bid to cut down on traffic jams and road accidents, under European Commission plans unveiled Tuesday.

EU supporting stars of tomorrow through Eurostars — 31 July 2008, 23:28 CET

The European Union has given the green light allowing the flow of funds to support the Eurostars Joint Programme. Decision 743/2008/CE of the European Parliament and the Council, of 9 July, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 July and will enter into force on 2 August.